Planning Theory and Values URBAN5158

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course introduces students to the fundamental theoretical, ethical and ideological debates in urban planning from the late 19th century to the present day. The course will examine critical urban theory and urban planning theory to enable them to fully appreciate the values underlying the discipline of planning today.

Timetable

18 hours of timetabled on-campus teaching in Semester 1 delivered in 3 hourly blocks (2hr lecture + 1hr seminar), once per week, over 6 consecutive weeks, beginning in teaching week 1.

Requirements of Entry

None.

Excluded Courses

None.

Assessment

Students will be assessed by way of a 2,500 essay (100% weighting) that demonstrates the student's critical understanding of one or more urban or planning theory and critically explores how theory can inform the ethics and values of current and future city planning decision-making. 

Course Aims

The course aims to provide students from a range of related disciplinary backgrounds with a common grounding in the theoretical, ethical and ideological debates in urban planning through attending lectures, undertaking readings, debating with peers, and preparing a written essay. It provides students with a foundation in urban planning debates that will help contextualise the remainder of the programme from a common disciplinary perspective.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Evaluate key debates in critical urban theory and planning theory and apply theoretical, ethical and ideological debates to real-world case studies and problems.

■ Synthesise existing academic research and scholarship to formulate independent perspectives on planning theory and values.

■ Apply sound judgement to a range of complex ethical issues in planning theory and practice.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

 

Minimum requirement for award of credit for students on MSc City Planning is D3 or above.

 

University standard regulations apply to students on other qualifications.